Nepal is preparing to build a new three-kilometre bridge over the Saptakoshi river, connecting Kanchanpur in Saptari district with Rajabas in Sunsari district, in a move that will provide an alternative to the existing Koshi Barrage bridge linking the two eastern Tarai districts. The project has an estimated cost of Rs 43 billion and is to be constructed with support from the Asian Development Bank, according to Chudaraj Dhakal, director at the Department of Roads' Project Directorate. Once operational, the new crossing is expected to shorten travel along the East-West Highway by 14 kilometres, offering motorists a fresh route over one of the country's most significant river crossings.

A Second Saptakoshi Crossing for the Eastern Tarai

The proposed bridge will span approximately three kilometres across the Saptakoshi, running from Kanchanpur on the Saptari side to Rajabas in Sunsari. At present, the Koshi Barrage bridge serves as the crossing that links the two districts, and the new structure is being planned explicitly as an alternative to that route. The project was reported this week by Nagarik News, Nepal Press and Ratopati, all citing officials from the Department of Roads.

The key details of the planned project are as follows:

  • Location: From Kanchanpur in Saptari district to Rajabas in Sunsari district
  • Length: Approximately three kilometres over the Saptakoshi river
  • Estimated cost: Rs 43 billion
  • Funding: Support from the Asian Development Bank
  • Planning basis: A detailed project report prepared some years ago
  • Expected impact: A 14-kilometre reduction in travel distance on the East-West Highway

By providing a second crossing over the Saptakoshi, the project aims to relieve the dependence of east-west traffic on the Koshi Barrage bridge, which currently handles vehicles moving between Saptari and Sunsari. Officials say the alignment has been identified on the basis of the earlier detailed project report, giving the department a ready technical foundation to move the proposal forward.

Drawing on an Old Blueprint, with ADB Backing

A notable feature of the plan is that the bridge will be built on the basis of a detailed project report (DPR) prepared some years ago, rather than requiring an entirely fresh design study from scratch. According to Dhakal, the estimated cost of the project stands at Rs 43 billion, a figure that has been arrived at with reference to that earlier report. The involvement of the Asian Development Bank as a supporting partner signals that the project is expected to be financed with the backing of an established external development partner, as stated in the reports.

The Project Directorate of the Department of Roads, where Dhakal serves as director, is the body associated with the project's disclosure. The reports indicate that preparations to build the bridge are now under way, with the department set to take the proposal forward using the groundwork already completed. For a structure of this scale, spanning roughly three kilometres over a major river, the existence of a previously prepared DPR represents a head start on the technical side, even as financial and administrative steps remain to be completed before construction can begin.

The Rs 43 billion price tag places the Saptakoshi bridge among the significant infrastructure investments planned for the country's road network. The reports did not specify a construction start date or a completion timeline, and those details are expected to become clearer as the project advances through its preparatory stages.

Easing the Journey on the East-West Highway

The most tangible benefit highlighted by officials is the impact on travel along the East-West Highway. Once the new bridge comes into operation, travel on the highway is expected to be shortened by 14 kilometres, a meaningful saving for the daily flow of passenger and freight vehicles that move along this principal east-west corridor. Vehicles travelling between Saptari and Sunsari currently rely on the Koshi Barrage bridge, and the new crossing will give drivers an alternative route over the Saptakoshi.

The dual benefit of a shorter distance and an additional crossing is central to the project's rationale. As an alternative to the Koshi Barrage bridge, the new structure is intended to diversify the options available for crossing the river between the two districts, reducing the reliance of highway traffic on a single crossing point. For communities on both banks, in Kanchanpur and Rajabas, the bridge is expected to tighten the connection between Saptari and Sunsari once traffic begins to use the new route.

What Comes Next

At this stage, the project remains in the preparation phase. The confirmation of the bridge's locations, its three-kilometre span, its estimated Rs 43 billion cost, the planned Asian Development Bank support and the expected 14-kilometre saving on the East-West Highway together sketch the outline of one of the more substantial road infrastructure proposals announced for the eastern Tarai. Further information on procurement, construction scheduling and the phasing of works has not yet been made public, and updates are expected as the Department of Roads moves the project from preparation toward implementation on the strength of the detailed project report prepared years ago.